Redknapp vows Spurs will fight for third

Thursday 22 March 2012 10:40 BST

Harry Redknapp

Defiant Harry Redknapp has told Arsenal to think again if they believe they have won the race for third place.

Tottenham crashed out of the Barclays Premier League top three, which earn automatic Champions League qualification places, for the first time in almost three months after they could only draw 1-1 with Stoke on Wednesday evening. North London rivals Arsenal, meanwhile, won 1-0 at Everton.

Spurs boss Redknapp refused to be disheartened by his side's recent slump, saying: "We can still finish above Arsenal. Arsenal can think it's all over. It's not all over. There's a long way to go yet. There'll be twists and turns. It's all to play for still. They're not going to win every game, are they, I don't think."

"Nothing affects them - they've been ready to play," he said. "I'd be making excuses if I said that. I just felt we got a bit panicky. We stopped passing the ball as well."

Stoke looked set to earn a league double over Tottenham for the first time when Cameron Jerome prodded them ahead with 15 minutes remaining but Rafael van der Vaart's stoppage-time equaliser meant they went home with just a point.

Manager Tony Pulis admitted afterwards he thought his side were set to end a run of three fiendishly tough away games with a win having been edged out by Chelsea and Liverpool in the league and FA Cup respectively.

Pulis said: "We're very, very pleased with the effort that the lads have put in on the back of such a tough game on Saturday at Liverpool and on the back of such a tough game at Chelsea. Three away games have been big, big games for the team and the football club.

"Putting in a performance like that today was testament to what the team's all about.

"They're a very, very hard-working group of players who just give everything for one another."